Meet the Inclusion Team

The Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust (BTCT) Inclusion team is a collaboration of highly experienced, specialist professionals working alongside our schools, Apex Centres and local communities to provide a programme of advice, support, assessment and training. The team aims to promote and support our schools to provide an equitable experience for all children and young people in our care, aligning with our Trust values to be collaborative, ambitious and inclusive for all learners.

Ali Biddles (Director of Inclusion)  

Ali is the Director of Inclusion for the Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust, working within the South-West SEND sector for more than 20 years as a teacher, SENCo in both primary and secondary schools, and as Head of Inclusion. Ali is committed to the principle that every child should have equal opportunity to reach their full potential, to be able to successfully transition onto their next steps in life equipped with appropriate skills and knowledge. Ali and the wider Trust inclusion professionals work closely with our schools and Apex Centres to remove potential barriers to learning and continually develop environments where all students can achieve and thrive.

Ellie Webber (Trust SENCO)

Ellie initially trained as a primary school teacher but has enjoyed working in both primary and secondary settings during her career. Shortly after the Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust launched in 2012, she was approached to work with the SEN Team which was across the Primary and Secondary phases and in 2013/14 completed her SENCo qualification.

Her current role is that of Trust Senco as well as being the named SENCo at Otterhampton Primary School. As Trust SENCo she supports other SENCo’s within the Trust through joint working, quality assurance of SEND practices, offering advice, completing EHCP applications, attending meetings with professionals and parents…the list feels never ending and no day is the same as the day before. Ellie loves the variety she gets by working for the Trust and the brilliant colleagues that she works with every day.

Rachel Perkins (Trust SENCO)

Rachel has worked in education in the South West for 15 years. After being a class teacher she quickly took on the role of supporting high needs pupils within a hub model in a primary setting and this is where her passion for supporting children with special educational needs began and she has never looked back. Since then, she has worked successfully as a SENCO in a Somerset middle school before commencing her role with the Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust. Rachel is passionate about all children succeeding, whatever their need and believes that this is always possible with the right support and systems in place. She values supporting SENCOs and other school based colleagues in rising to challenges and celebrating successes via an interpersonal and collaborative approach working with parents and carers as partners in their children's education. 

Sarah Wharton (Head of Polden Centre) 

Sarah is Head of Centre at the Polden Centre ASC resource base at Bridgwater College Academy. Sarah qualified as a primary school teacher in 2000 and has worked across EYFS, KS1 and KS2 in Bristol and Somerset schools. Sarah was inspired by SEND children in her classes who she felt passionate to improve outcomes for; in particular, autistic students. Sarah gained her SENDCO qualification alongside her Masters Module in Autistic Spectrum Condition and has enjoyed working with a dedicated team of staff at the Polden Centre for 5 years. Sarah and team believe that the best outcomes are achieved for autistic students when adaptations are made around individual need.

Julia Edmonds (Speech and Language Therapist) 

Julia is a qualified, HCPC and RCSLT registered speech and Language Therapist. She has been part of the inclusion team at BTCT since January 2023. Julia’s career with children and young people began in 2000, running a special educational needs department in a mainstream secondary boy’s school. Since then, she has worked in specialist education provisions, and with adults with learning disabilities.

Julia is a firm believer that every child should be at the centre of their own therapy, and strives to make all her interventions enjoyable and meaningful. In her spare time, Julia is a year-round open water swimmer and loves attempting new crafts. 

Michelle Craig (Head of APEX West)

Michelle is the Head of Centre at APEX West, a therapeutic off-site provision in Minehead, West Somerset. She has worked in the education sector for over 20 years in various roles, including a number of years as an English teacher, SENDco and now as HOC at APEX West. Michelle also works extensively for two national examination boards as a monitor, moderator and examiner.  Michelle is a Trauma Informed Practitioner, equine assisted therapist and advocate of the Trust Technique. She is passionate about inclusive education and empowering young to achieve their full protentional. In 2021 she  welcomed the opportunity to be part of the APEX journey. 

Carl Winch (Head of APEX South)

Carl is the Head of Centre at APEX South, a therapeutic off-site provision in Crewkerne, South Somerset. He has worked in the education sector for over 30 years in various roles, including 17 years as a headteacher and a year as the CEO of a small multi-academy trust.

Carl believes that education can transform lives and improve social mobility and that socio-economic background should never be a barrier to a young person reaching his or her potential. He is strong advocate of inclusive education and his current role within the inclusion team allows him to put this philosophy into practice on a daily basis. Carl is a qualified trauma informed schools’ practitioner.